Embryology of the Urogenital Systems Flashcards
What type of embryonic tissue does the urinary (and genital) system develop from?
Intermediate mesoderm of trilaminar disc.
What does intermediate mesoderm separate from?
From lateral and paraxial mesoderm during folding and forms urogenital ridge.
What forms the urogenital ridge?
Intermediate mesoderm separates from lateral and paraxial mesoderm during folding and forms urogenital ridge.
At what week of development is the mesonephros present and functional?
weeks 6 -10
After week 10 of development, the mesonephros degenerates except for?
> the duct system will contribute to part of the male genital system (ductus deferens).
> some vestigial structures in the female.
Even though the metanephros is not functional in women, what is it still important?
Because it contributes to the development of the ureter.
True or False:
Renogenesis involves a process of reciprocal induction, which is not retinoic acid dependent.
False - renogenesis involves a process of reciprocal induction, which IS retinoic acid dependent.
What establishes a renogenic region within the intermediate mesoderm in the tail of the embryo?
Cranial-caudal patterning
What is the metanephric blastema?
renogenic mesoderm is the METANEPHRIC BLASTEMA
What does the metanephric blastema secrete?
Secretes growth factors that induce growth of the URETERIC BUD from the caudal portion of the mesonephric duct.
What induces growth of the ureteric bud from the caudal portion of the mesonephric duct?
the metanephric blastema secretes growth factors that induce growth
True or False:
The ureteric bud proliferates and responds by secreting growth factors that stimulates proliferation and then differentiation of the metanephric blastema into glomeruli and kidney tubules.
True
What differentiates into glomeruli and kidney tubules?
metanephric blastema
What can cause inhibition of ureteric bud growth and renal hypoplasia or agenesis?
perturbations in any aspect of these inductive events (e.g., mutations of either metanephric or ureteric factors or disruption of retinoic acid signaling
At which week of development does blood plasma from glomerular capillaries begins to be filtered?
10th week
Urine is produced by the 10th week of development, but what is the primary function of the urine?
Primary function is not to clear waste (placenta) but to supplement production of amniotic fluid.
What may oligohydramnios (insufficient amount of amniotic fluid indicate?
May indicate bilateral renal agenesis or urethral obstruction.
What is oligohydramnios?
insufficient amount of amniotic fluid
What is the in utero function of the metanephros?
To filter blood plasma from glomerular capillaries at the 10th week of development, which produces urine. This urine is supplemental production of amniotic fluid.
List the clinical considerations that we are responsible for in this lecture.
- accessory renal vessels
- renal agenesis
- renal ectopia
- renal fusion
- urachal fistula or cyst
- Wilms tumor
In what percentage of individuals do accessory renal vessels occur and from where do they arise?
10% of individuals and 98% arise from the abdominal aorta.
Most enter the renal pelvis and pose little problem
Where can aberrant renal arteries enter the kidney that pose problems?
Upper or lower poles of the kidney.
Aberrant arteries to the inferior pole of the kidney (4-6%) may be caused by what?
Obstruction of the ureter and may cause an intermittent or continuous obstruction to urinary drainage from the renal pelvis.
True or False:
Aberrant renal vessels enter the kidney independently from the primary renal vessels.
True
You know that kidneys are formed in the pelvis and ascend to the lumbar region, but with progressive revascularization from what?
Common iliac and aorta.
Where are kidneys formed and where do they ascend to?
Kidneys are formed in the pelvis but ascend to lumbar region with progressive revascularization from common iliac and aorta.
What two things cause Potter’s syndrome (pulmonary hypoplasia)?
- Oligohydramnios
- Fetal compression
What causes amnion nodosum?
Oligohydramnios
Is Potter’s syndrome diagnosed in utero?
Yes
What does renal fusion prevent in normal kidney development?
Normal rotation of kidney.
In patients with renal fusion, from what arteries is typical abnormal blood supply coming from?
Usually from middle sacral or common iliac arteries.
What is the typical shape (defining structure) of a kidney in a patient with renal fusion?
Horseshoe kidney
What percentage of horseshoe kidneys are fused at the lower pole?
90%
What landmark is horseshoe kidneys typically found inferior to?
Inferior mesenteric artery.
because the horseshoe kidney gets stuck under the inferior mesenteric artery when the kidney is ascending during development
What is Wilms’ tumor and who is usually affected?
Cancer of the kidney and usually affects children under the age of 5.
A mutation in what gene causes a Wilms’ tumor?
Mutations in the WT1 gene.